New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
WOMEN WHO USE TIE FOILS.
wHYTHEY FENCE AND HOW THEY DRESS.

WHY THEY FENCE AND HOW THEY DRESs.
MRS. LANGTRY's MORNING LEssONs-AN EXPERT IN
THE ART OF FENCE.
"Ah, Madame, you will never make fencer until you
abandon those ahom;nable becia" so saying the polite
fencing laid aside his mask and pointed his foil,
half scornfuy, half sadly mt tic little blocks whicn
projected from point the miodle OF the soles Oh
ha pupils slippers. and which had just tripped hor up
n a luuge Even in her Illuminating posiiion-for she
had com pleely her basnce-t 20 little actress whose
fencing lesson was thus unseasonably interrupted.
presented uncommOniy pleasing picture. Her cheek
flushed and her bright with tho eIhiara-
ton exercise the violence OF the last unge and s
disastrous rrsu had few locks Of golden hair FREQ,
and the close hitting costume displayed figure every
line OF which tOi OF health and harmonious muscular
development.
Tho costume certainly ono which would have
gained the young woman applause on the STAGE IL
consisted OF funnel jacket, doubiepreasei aud
padded the chest 20 deadon the force OF her as
ans hrusts short skr:, with bds and white sprpe'
reachug ust knees allowed the fullest freedom or
movement. A pair OF silk stockings. gloves win long
gaunle,s that projected the wrsts and tho slippers
with the offending heos comp eted tic costume.
As may he suppo ,ed the puln did not have much
difficulty pacariDg the offended master. aud tho les
son went ON. But IN future the high heels we're dis
carded AMI IN their Ilaoe slippers without any
heels all. which tho only proper footgear Tor
either man or woman Willis fencing Soon the master
WAS ahl- say triumph Of his pupil: She handles
the foil az naturally az ~ it were nnodo There aro
not many OF my A.s,e plps AGAINST whom would not
match hcr n sh, iy rad their strength. Its q pity
that moro womrp doI't fence. I like 10 teach Thorn.
Their movements naturally graceful than those
nou ossi-r to tro them to execute thrsts
with delIcacy But when 10 actual bout with
the ios they lose their heads Cooness and Judgment
are the essential charActorIstcs OF good sworisnan,
and my experience in toacniug that these are
qualities which women ID not possess in any high
degree"
Tue number OF ~omen who handle the fois is lareeG
than 10 generally supposed. Even In NewYork. whore
fencing has a popular amuse mont only within
tue last few years. fencing masters ind plenty OF female
pupils, although these are generally actresses Ao'
trossss crodted-proDaby justlyviih taking moro
OF their beauty than ANY other GLASS of women
Now who really careful of their beauty
shodd neglect their health and exercise is moro
heathfu hsn fencing IL makes tho carriage erott and
graceful; IL gives rupplcness and elasticity to Tho
muscles; IL has the exharatisn that makes exercise
pastsbe-in fact, ~ woman prizes clear skin and
we'll rounded figure. foil and mask gill prove her
most effective aids and this tho young OF the
stage have not been slow to discover.
Then again 1t infrequcny hapr that actress
az signed part that requires her 10 maks a
display Of workmanship on the stage Then shc goes TO
fencing master alter io lessons IL able 10
mako a graceful exhibition out of what would other
In Continental Europe tho women are moro fuIy
w ke 10 the advantages fencing they in this
country. Tho Empires, OF Au,ra. whose daring horse
mapsLip iove for dogs and genera sporting proc Tos
are 80 known. adds admirable proficiency with
the ,oils 10 her other pshmens. All tho I"ncinI
tea ehers feminine pupils who are ny
no cans restricted to tho aeiress~s Young women Of
the highest classes In society fence q, regularly ~ they
rite or dance In fact II II were not for fencing lesson
In the moruue. many OF them would feel less incina
ton Ia dance In the evening.
No actual duel between woman Is on record. nctwith
standing the painting Of An Ansir OF Honor
winch oru ,nenod the Paris salon couple 81 years ago
Nevertheless who knows tho vaearies In which
the women OF tue Fronoh capital sometimes Indulge
would be surprised 10 read OF sangunary encounter
between pair OF them AT incennes or In tue forest oil
&c. German.
remember when WAS IA young provost In one "' tho
big fenci X schools In Paris" said tns same tearher
quoted beure what sensation H. used 10 cause when
the hour ladies' lessons oano All the men except
tue master md myself pnt out but how they aid
beg allowed 10 stay! But tho master was neIor
able lilo old soldier md believed In discipline
But they hang abont tho doors and look through
the keyhoes. ono young fellow hd iu closet once,
bu no was found out and elected In great Disgrace.
Ie.is sshac. the genial fencing master Of the New
York Athletic Club said the other nay that he never hhd
so N my apJ LEGATIONS from women who wanted 10 take
lessons as he has hal suoe Mrs. Langry became MA
puuil. NJ. kouac Is nor Ufsi sue 1aAoh
lessons In London and is expert IN tho use "f
the foil than "A woman often becomes. The writer was
allowed W 30 present Of hor lessons not long ago.
NJ ecnae comes TO her house In West Twenty hird-st
eyery morning while she Is Ia town. lilo Is duo "t ~
o'clock And r." said Mrs Langtry, often don't rise
until hs Is annOnncod for You can magiue that some
times IL Ia struggle get up for lesson after having
votkcd hard tho evening before Bat lind tbat am
the better all day tho exercise: 80 summon up my
conruge ana tumble into my costume"
Mrs Lsngrys stume consists OF close lifting WAIST
coat OF white buokskn. largo baegy trousers OF whto
ranne that descsnd to the kneo. and white stock nfa
shs IL too OK pericncsd swords to think OF In
dagng In any eItravagances In tho Of heels shs
wears buck.k rlovts. hut her master wcro no an et
tremrly careful IN al, she wOnld ba Obliged 10 wohr
heavily padie glove NJ least hor right hand Tor one
some;imes gosa rap with inc ioii over INC A"u'A''
Tno INST half OF tho lesson Was jlst over whon ,eo
writor wa, admitted tho other morning. Mrs languy
had thrown Q wrap her shoulders n proteeiiou
after the heat OF erorclse while senao was pacg o
few minutes OF rost, work vas resumed, and tho
famous beauty rubbed tho resin her solcs put on nor
oxtendsd-ali rs naturally A. " she had br night up
fencing rooms Her motions asd non. OF u. wume'
and loos-ncss which characterize the efforts ~ beg
nor Every mannuvro was clenncut and precise ine
play Of her foil was SO small thai to use ~ iS
fayOrs siine could have executed within tncrins
OF Young ef After about ten minutes OF ms
Mr.. Lansry cismrd tho right 10 anothrr rs't whe On
fencing. and told what II dill for her. ,,
Not only do feel the good eneots or my Iho, '
lesson all through tho dny she sat. IN genera, oo
Ing up OF tho whole systen. bur find that my fencing
Is particularly valuable to mo In my profession. ~
gives me a command over my muscles and sutPieheS'
that Ia salu ADie on The stage" m.
NJ. scnac Is as proud ms peacock OF his pupil nT
gives her lrssons IA sugle-sck WE'LL and an oxuouo
pretty picture she makes. tw!rng hrr light cane apous
her head ble calls IL the art OF defending onos sci, W"
umbrella wants bsr TO give public ofnp,,ioh
with tho fois when comes back 10 Nrw-b0rL n.s
Langley docs not absolutely refuse but shs says ta
shs gives exhibition. only ladies' viii be admitted.
Probably good many will feel Inclined 10 put vi
petticoats for the DOC aston.